Glynnis, who has proved her ignorance by faulting the United States Constitution for not tackling slavery and women’s rights in 1786 (although Benjamin Franklin was an abolitionist), now writes a very snide piece about Michele Bachmann who (oh, my God) “prayed” for Obamacare to fail. Well, I “pray” that the healthcare bill fails too. I am on Medicare and live somewhat on Social Security, and no fool is going to tell me that cutting Medicare by FIVE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS will not result in diminished benefits. It is also very foolish not to see that Obamacare is destroying the Democratic party because the American people do not want the bill, a bill that no one has read.

JimW,

Bachmann is all sorts of crazy. Literally, she exhibits many forms of insanity with her. I especially remember that one time in which she hid behind bushes to spy on a rally, which shows she is a sociopath. Another time is when she wanted to investigate members of congress to see if they are “Pro-America or Anti-America”, which is paranoia. Then plain delusional stupidity by claiming the 1920′s recession was worse than the Great Depression. The point is, she’s insane.

Now do yourself a favour and please actually read the shitty healthcare bill that is being proposed, so you can have legitimate reasons for disliking it and outright hating it.

Also since when do conservatives love Medicare and Social Security? I thought the conservative main goal in life was to privatize Social Security and Medicare. A bit of consistency would be nice here. Just a few observations, that’s all I offer.

Who is Bachmann praying to? and for what? God is not a God of hate, jealousy, racism, — and is not the author of confusion, and Bachmann is quite confused — so what exactly would the discussion be about?

Dear Snipzor, there is no way for me to read the bill because the new Obama “transparency” has put an opaque wall in front of it. According to the New York Times, the bill is being funded by the $500,000,00,000 being cut from Medicare. By the way, I am a moderate Democrat who voted for Barack Obama because he ran as a centrist. I have no idea where his lunge to the left came from, it took me by surprise. One more thing, I am not alone in my growing disgust at congress and the blind liberal ideologues who support this current spending insanity. Hillary Clinton promising developing countries ONE HUNDRED BILLION dollars PER YEAR for global warming. Where is the money coming from? You, Snipzor, you! it’s coming from your taxes and healthcare costs will be paid for by your taxes and cap and trade will triple your energy costs and your children and grand children will be a lot poorer for the lunacy you seem to support at the current time.

Glynnis

Wouldn’t you say she’s relevant as much as you’re writing about her?

For all you people who think there’s something “crazy-ish” about female members of Congress praying in public, I give you Representative Lynn Woolsey, D-California (Marin/Sonoma County, the House seat formerly belonging to Barbara Boxer), on December 18, 1998 — ELEVEN YEARS AGO TODAY — on the floor of the House of Representatives as the full body voted to impeach President Clinton:

Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, this past Sunday, while attending church in my hometown of Petaluma, California, I was struck by how utterly sad I am. Sad about the President’s behavior, sad about the Committee on the Judiciary’s unfair decision to not allow censure as an alternative, and the impact all of this will have on our Nation.

Today, my heart is even heavier, because we are conducting this debate while our troops are in harm’s way. My heart aches for the division separating us in this House, the distraction from the work of government that we were elected to do, the threat of this unfair process on our democratic system, and I am heartsick about the shame and waste of this impeachment process. Shamed because the President’s conduct, while reprehensible, does not fit the definition under the Constitution. Waste, because while we carry on, we are not working for the important business of our Nation, and we ignore our young men and women fighting abroad.

With these thoughts in mind and these feelings, I would like to share with my colleagues the prayer that I prayed Sunday in my church: Please, Lord, give wisdom, strength, and compassion to every Member of the House so that we do not turn against our country and our need to punish one man. Please help every Member of this House see that the real mistake would be to push forward without the alternative of censure to punish our Nation for one man’s personal weakness. And please, help us to remember the difference between partisan politics and leadership. So that we will not make a decision against the people of this country, we will make a decision for Americans based on fairness, based on forgiveness, not against one person, our President. Dear Lord, help us, through compromise and conscience, heal our Nation. Amen.

NOW THAT’S CRAZY.

Jim, do you even understand what you are saying? The current health insurance reform has gotten to the point where there is no public option, no Medicare buy-in, and one must buy private insurance. If you think that what is going on is left-wing, you are the blind ideologue, not me. Because Obama has consistently shown himself to be a corporatist and not the social liberal he had claimed in the campaign.

Oh yeah, yelling and appeals to emotion do not work. Your entire rant is useless, and also filled with blatantly false accusations. Even the true claim that Hillary Clinton pledges to allocate 100 billion to combat the negative impacts that global warming would have on developing nations, is incredibly sensationalized considering that the 100 billion is likely to come from fossil fuel industry subsidies.

@Snipzor…. Whistling an aria to a deaf person is a waste of breath. The American people will wipe the slate clean next November and then this discussion will end. I love this quote from the telegraph.co.uk: “When your attempt at recreating the Congress of Vienna with a third-rate cast of extras turns into a shambles, when the data with which you have tried to terrify the world is daily exposed as ever more phoney, when the blatant greed and self-interest of the participants has become obvious to all beholders, when those pesky polar bears just keep increasing and multiplying – what do you do?” It sums up my feelings about Washington at the moment, too.

Snipzor wrote:

Jim, do you even understand what you are saying? The current health insurance reform has gotten to the point where there is no public option, no Medicare buy-in, and one must buy private insurance. If you think that what is going on is left-wing, you are the blind ideologue, not me. Because Obama has consistently shown himself to be a corporatist and not the social liberal he had claimed in the campaign.

Barack Obama is on record as desiring single-payer as far back as 2003. His exact words at an AFL-CIO conference on June 30, 2003:

“I happen to be a proponent of single payer universal health care plans. . . A single payer health care plan, a universal health care plan. And that’s what I’d like to see. But as all of you know, we may not get there immediately. Because first we have to take back the White House, we have to take back the Senate, and we have to take back the House.”

Don’t believe me? Believe the video.

So, six and a half years later, let’s review: Taking back the White House? Check. Taking back the Senate? Check. Taking back the House? Check. Who’s in charge? The guy who said “A single payer health care plan, a universal health care plan. And that’s what I’d like to see.”

Now, the Media Splatters guys and their parrots in the MSM pretend that Obama has embraced political reality and moderated his stance toward single-payer. Oh, really? Let’s see him go out before the public and say “I don’t want single-payer anymore.” He won’t do it.

Remember that the Constitution is malleable in Obama’s opinion, and he has the ability to install enough “living Constitution” justices to swing things his redistributionist way. His first goal is to pass a bill that puts four walls and a ceiling on some sort of health insurance policy. After that’s accomplished, he and the Democrats will go about the business of systematically remodeling that building until it’s their dream home — Universal Health Care.

Pray. That’ll do it. To which ever Pig God one prefers. Religion is always an artiface for slinging hatred & bitterness. In today’s God Racket – that moral slum occupied by Priests, Preachers, Archbishops, Divine Fuhrers, Gurus, Corn-pone Messiahs, Bush-jihadists, Exalted Cyclops, Grand Dragons of The Rhelm – a stretch on The Cross is part of the job! Hucksters selling Jesus to the rancid masses. Republican Hitler Youth Meetings. Neo-Fascists disquised as Christian Republicants. Filtering Hatred thru Christ. Repressive rodents scurrying about in their cages. Michele & her like play quite well in the Moron Belt. Yup.

So, Nachi — to which “Pig God” was Lynn Woolsey praying to ward off Clinton’s impeachment in 1998?

Wow, are Nachi & Glynnis engaged?

John Adams said the the Constitution was for a moral and religious people. Something for which Nachi and Glynnis have scant relish.

One of the few times Barry Goldwater and I agreed:

“There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of God’s name on one’s behalf should be used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both. I’m frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in ‘A,’ ‘B,’ ‘C,’ and ‘D.’ Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me?”

Perhaps long term we’ll become a more secular government as the unholy alliance between religiosity and politics is exposed as the disaster it is.

From government funded abstinence only failures, statistical evidence of better “family values” results like less abortions, less divorce, less STDs, and less poverty the more liberal a state is, to political leaders consulting their god in matters like whether to go to war, to the bigotry and genocide performed throughout history in the name of one god or another, one can only hope science, reason and compassion will eventually prevail over superstition and dogma – all recent evidence to the contrary.

Jim W. – You’re brilliant! You cherry pick some quote from Adams off Wikipedia and you’re suddenly a Constitutional expert? Nice try, save it for your Friday night bingo club.

Bachmann is a typical teabagging dumb ass and based on her behavior she’s probably a meth addict.

Oh, Ted, kiss my a@@. My cat’s stool has more relevance than anything that comes from your dirty mouth.

Oh Jim W., next to bingo, your cats stool is the highlight of your weekend. Dumb ass.

Snipzor says:
December 18, 2009 at 11:54 am

Now do yourself a favour [sic] and please actually read the shitty healthcare bill that is being proposed, so you can have legitimate reasons for disliking it and outright hating it.

It hasn’t been published yet. Not knowing the basic facts about the situation kinda hurts your arguments… don’t you think?

Nachi says:
December 18, 2009 at 4:05 pm

Do you object to Obama having been so close to a Reverend? Apparently religion is important to him. Does that upset you?

I personally prefer Jefferson to “Alien And Sedition Act” Adams.

“that the impious presumption of legislators and rulers, civil as well as ecclesiastical, who, being themselves but fallible and uninspired men, have assumed dominion over the faith of others, setting up their own opinions and modes of thinking as the only true and infallible, and as such endeavoring to impose them on others, hath established and maintained false religions over the greatest part of the world and through all time”

One can only dream of what the man who removed the miracles from the Bible, and upon whose Koran Keith Ellison was sworn in on; would have to say to “Mr Originalist” Antonin Scalia about “Faith Based Initiatives” or prayer in schools.

Two questions for Jim R that he probably won’t answer:

1. Why did Thomas Jefferson even have a Koran?

2. Do you echo Jefferson’s views about sodomy as well?

I’m Not Blue answered Snipzor:

[The Reid Health Care bill] hasn’t been published yet. Not knowing the basic facts about the situation kinda hurts your arguments… don’t you think?

I wish it did hurt their arguments. That would mean they would be more substantive than “You’re a crazy racist teabagger!”

LNSmithee,

1) Perhaps because he had a huge library to go with a huge intellect and an open mind, like most of the other founders who were also products of the enlightenment and largely deists at best. But, of course, conservatives only drag out their anachronistic, abhorrent views when they’re not using them to justify rolling back two hundred years of societal progress.

2) Funny you’d know about that.

Jefferson knew that as we evolved they would be considered barbarians, except by conservatives trying to eliminate taxes or Social Security.

“But I know also, that laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths disclosed, and manners and opinions change with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also, and keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the same coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.”

Letter to Samuel Kercheval, July 12, 1810

We all know what Jefferson and his ilk, with all of their faults, would have thought about politicians shamelessly prostrating themselves publicly for votes, let alone deigning to know what The Lord wants for our country.

Ahh, the Little People speak out. Little Boy/Girl/Whatever Blue. & LNS & Jim W.: A grand display! You are inferior to others here – and it shows vividly. You cannot compete – yet you contantly vomitize. But do have faith – there are currently positions open in your own Klaverns for both Hydras and Furies. Possibly even a Titan of The Dominion.

JimW started with a claim, based on what he doubtless has heard and read, that the Democrats plan to “squeeze”–Nancy Pelosi’s description– $500 billion from Medicare, to pay for roughly half of their planned expansions of health care. No one challenged those figures or his rational conclusion that that would result in “diminished benefits” for himself and others. As a Medicare recipient, I know that Medicare underpays my physicians. I also was denied an H1N1 vaccine at a city clinic because, at 75, I was older than 65, though I also have chronic and serious heart problems. I also know of the writings of Ezekiel Emanuel, M.D., now in the Administration, who has argued for diminished “chances” at care for the elderly.

JimW got non sequitur responses. And insults. Michele Bachmann got similar treatment. Even more distressingly, their accusers display the defects they see in others. It is as though they looked into a mirror and saw faces like Dorian Gray’s after a life of crime and dissipation, and accuse others of looking as they do.

As to the subject of the original post, Michele Bachmann, an attorney who formerly practiced federal tax law litigation, is quite sane. One does not question the sanity of people who take issue positions different from one’s own, unless one has good reason to reach that conclusion, and none obtains re: Ms. Bachmann. She is no more prone to say “crazy-ish things” than, say, Al Franken or Barack Obama. Ms. MacNicol’s comment was petty and foolish.

Alfred, thank you for your message. I’m not worried about nasty responses from some extremely challenged people with no impulse control. What does worry me is when elected officials just don’t listen to the those who elected them. I think it’s pretty clear that next November the Democrats will lose the House and Senate and representatives will repeal all this Obama nonsense.

Nachi says:
December 18, 2009 at 11:22 pm

And yet, you’re the one who talked about your distain for Hispanics. I gotta tell you, being called goofy names by a racist such as yourself, doesn’t really upset me. I’d be more worried if you liked what I had to say.

Hey Colby / D. Abrams,

A suggestion. Hint of suggestion for a gift for your readers:

Upgrades on the comments section. Let’s assume you’re going be getting more volume on comments in 2010. If the case, you’re going to wear out the likes of:

ImNotBlue
LNSmithee
JimW
JimR
Snipzor

You know, some comments technology that lets

-readers reply directly to individual comments. I’t getting tough to follow the threads:
-ability to include http links without moderation and having to code html
-maybe click on commenters username to see some history of their replies. (I like to see if they’re zombie idealogue commenters before I decide to respond.
-Another thought is to hyperlink “columnists” name so readers can click to see history of their stories
-the thumbs up/down counter maybe, but not a big request
-avoid the “report abuse” button for now. Takes fun out of all the “drive by” comments

Any other requests readers?

RazorsEdge says:
December 19, 2009 at 12:19 pm

-the thumbs up/down counter maybe, but not a big request

Ugh… please no! That is the most pointless piece of technology ever! Just turns into a popularity thing, with political trolls hunting down comments by a certain person, just to “thumbs down.” A big, pointless, waste-o-time.

-maybe click on commenters username to see some history of their replies. (I like to see if they’re zombie idealogue commenters before I decide to respond.

At least get rid of the folks who’s comments contain links to purchase sites. Bob123′s comment was great, and he wants you to check out discount sneakers… somehow I’m not buying it.

Let’s assume you’re going be getting more volume on comments in 2010. If the case, you’re going to wear out the likes of:

ImNotBlue

I’m already getting worn out. The site had so much promise when it started… but through its many overtly biased “editors” (who apparently don’t care what the readers have to say… so Colby told me earlier this week), and it’s typical left/right bickering (I get suckered in, I’ll admit it)… it’s become just another “media” site. The comments get more argumentative… the articles get more biased and less relevant to media… and the whole thing devolves into a pissing match. That’s why when I left TVNewser… I didn’t look back.

Overall, a good list Razor. I think your list points to the number one problem around here, though… that Mediaite doesn’t seem to listen, or be all that concerned with its readers opinions. As I said, I was told by Colby that he doesn’t have to “justify anything” to me… even though I’m a loyal reader (I was asking why the Palin/visor story qualified as a media story). They don’t seem to be interested… essentially just a “take what we’re giving you… and if you don’t like it, f**k off” mentality. And IMO, that’s no way to have a successful website.

Hey, Snipzor! Thanks for giving me the opportunity to illustrate that I know what I’m talking about.

Remember when I wrote this in answer to you:

[Obama's] first goal is to pass a bill that puts four walls and a ceiling on some sort of health insurance policy. After that’s accomplished, he and the Democrats will go about the business of systematically remodeling that building until it’s their dream home — Universal Health Care.

Here’s Senator Tom Harkin shortly after Ben Nelson sold out pro-lifers and became Mary Landrieu in drag:

“What we are buying here is a modest home, not a mansion. What we are getting here is a starter home. It’s got a good foundation: 30 million Americans are covered. It’s got a good roof: A lot of protections from abuses by insurance companies. It’s got a lot of nice stuff in there for prevention and wellness. But, we can build additions as we go along in the future. It is a starter home. Think about it in that way…”

(snip)

“In the future, amending it and changing it isn’t going to be as tough as passing it in the first place. We amend Medicare and Social Security all the time. We are changing rates, fixing this, doing this to make sure that they are viable. That’s what we will do in health care. I’m absolutely convinced of it.”

And there is one other thing Harkin is convinced will eventually come to pass: A public option.

“At some point in the near future, and I don’t know exactly how long it is going to be, we are going to have some sort of a public option out there,” he said. “We might not get it in this bill, but it will come in as the years go by and as people begin to look at insurance companies and how much they are charging. I have no doubt in my mind that we are going to have to go to some kind of a public option, some type of a single-payer type system…”